Comments on: Eskimos Sue 23 Energy Companies For Global Warming Related Damages

By: MukLuk

MukLuk — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:39:55 +0000

Is “eskimos” still an acceptible term? Not that I care too much, just havn¬¥t seen it in a while…

By: Angelique van Engelen

Angelique van Engelen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:09:57 +0000

I think that the case will set a precedent come what may. The case is not widely publicised but then it’s only been filed as yet.
To reply to the comment directly above (anonymous, July 8), yes the lawyers are from both the defense and the opposing parties in the tobacco case. The two have started to collaborate during the last ten years and have a very strong portfolio in environment issues.

By: Angelique van Engelen

Angelique van Engelen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:09:01 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:52:27 +0000

i think it is quite important to pursue the line of thinking that large companies who systematically lie as a matter of company policy (as did the tobacco companies) about negative impacts (climate change in this case), should be held accountable (and litigation and settlements are how this is done). such policies have caused many to doubt climate change, and has slowed down the process of finding solutions. unfortunately, people confuse this aspect (the lying and coverup) with blaming the companies for climate warming. i don’t think the latter is what the suit is about. this is just what befuddled the tobacco suit, i.e. people thinking that the suit was about blaming the companies for the health effects of smoking, when it really was blaming the companies for lying and covering up. yes, it is a snowball’s chance, but so was the tobacco suit, and they won. aren’t the lawyers in this case the same opposing lawyers from the tobacco case?

By: bulgarian solicitor

bulgarian solicitor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:40:49 +0000

That doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in…oh shit.

By: Terry Garr

Terry Garr — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:34:55 +0000

As much as I’d like to see ExxonMobil cough up some dough, I really fear that this is more about making a buck than setting things right. Even if these guys do make a case, it’s insane to think that Exxon, the US Government, or whatever can be blamed as a sole offender. What you’re really suing here is the entire world’s industrialized society (and not just the US). That’s crazy. Anyone whose ever burned some fossil fuel is to blame here.
Then again, Exxon can certainly be blamed for slowing down progress on finding solutions, but man, I would so much rather see energy and money being spent on solutions than on fattening up a bunch of lawyers!!! – and that, I fear, is what this accomplishes.